Thoughts on Missing & Hidden Players, Missing Sponsors on Kits, etc.

[doublem_59]

Among the largest number of complaints I see throughout the forums are those about missing players, hidden players, missing sponsors on kits, as well as generic team names and badges. The usual speculation is that EA Sports simply did a poor job in creating the game, but the explanation seems to be one of a more legal nature. In that, I mean that the reason is one of either a matter of licensing, or a matter of of avoiding procecution.

The missing or hidden players, and the generic team names and/or badges are most likely due to EA not being able to aquire licensing rights to display certain players, teams and/or team identification in the game. How many of you remember Oliver Kahn suing EA over his name and likeness being in previous editions of the FIFA game, and winning? I don't offhand remember the amount he was awarded, but it seemed to be in the neighborhood of US$ 10 million. If there's any question whatsoever about EA having licensing rights, do you think they would risk another judgement against them like that? The truth is that none of us know what the actual situation is regarding the licensing rights of players like Adrian Mutu, or the various Italian clubs that always seem to be included only some generic way. And don't forget that the KNVD, the Dutch Football Association, never agrees to anything EA apparently offers.

As far as the missing sponsors on kits go, that falls under the matter of avoiding prosecution here in the United States. Middlesborough's main sponsor is 888.com, a gambling website; as is Globet.com, the main sponsor of Spanish club Real Betis, who is also missing from the Real Betis kits in the game. Scottish side Hibernian is also missing their main sponson, the whisky distillery Whyte & Mackay. In the United States, where EA's headquarters are, it is illegal for gambling concerns, hard liquor or cigarette manufacturers to appear in any video games. Even if the FIFA games were marketed only outside the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as several Attorney Generals from the 50 U.S. States, would gleefully procecute EA for including them in the game, and probably put the company out of business permantly. This is to "protect" children under 18, the main players of video games, if not the main purchacers.

I hope this posting may answer the questions many have on the subjects mentioned in it's title. I'm not stating those are the only reasons, but probably the most likely, especially in light of EA never apparently offering any themselves.

 

[Vinman]

and here I thought the reason Adrian Mutu was left out of the game was because of his cocaine suspension last season

 

[Paul]

They're damned if they do, and if they don't.

Gambling sponsors will never be seen in games, and it's a wise decision. The last thing they need is bad publicity on top of half this community whinging about every little niggle in the game.

 

[Blacklover]

Simple thing though. Just like we can edit the "fake named" mutu to mutu, so should we be able to rename a team called Orange to Holland or Netherlands or Dutch or whatever we want. The players that comprise the Dutch National team are in the game, just we have no team to assign them to.

The sponsors are fair. Nothing to be done there. Gambling and liquor need not be on there, do I want them on there? yes absolutely, do I need them? not really. Boro's kit is spot on minus the 888.com.

I think most of all I would like to see some gameplay sliders in the game. And an option to turn on and off CPU subs.

 

[Mikas99]

It's not too much of a problem if you need the kits there with the accurate sponsors on there (say if ur a Boro fan), just get one of the many talented kit makers here to re-do the kit complete with the sponsor's logo.

 

[Paul]

I believe a creation centre will be released.

Going on the Orange team name, that's EA striking a deal with the Dutch FA or something. Out of my league.

 

[doublem_59]

Adrian Mutu

and here I thought the reason Adrian Mutu was left out of the game was because of his cocaine suspension last season

Actually, Mutu IS in the game, but under a false name. There's a player on the Juventus roster, Petrovici Teodor, who is listed as from Romania with Mutu's height, weight and correct number. The only other difference from the name is his date of birth. After I made the edits, the announcers DID refer to him as Mutu during gameplay. For anyone who's played EA's Major League Baseball games, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants is in the game this way...under a false name, Tom Dowd, and date of birth.

I'm aware of at least four other players who are in FIFA 06 under false names, and there are probably many more.

 

[curswine]

So does that mean that in the US they won't show 'boro or hibs games on TV (I know it is unlikely even if they didn't have the sponsors :P) but I mean like in the game against United last week, theywouldn't have shown that on television because they would have been breaking a law?

If a game is a simulation, then it should have everything that you see in real life, that's including racist fan flags etc. even though racism is an evil which should be stamped out my opinion is that if it can be seen in the stadium then it should be shown in the game. You never see television companies issuing certifictaes on matches do you or actually at the stadium you don't see people not being allowed in because of banners with profanity or aggressive language that they might be offended by.

EA usually do that when they can't get full liceneses for individual players, or teams, just give a fake name but correct details, like Fiorentina being called by the Italian name for Florence, Firenze, or how Ronaldo always used to be called No.9 which after a bit of editting, (if they included it in the game) was reet.

 

[ForZ.FCK]

Hey curs... i totally disagree with you about the rasist flags and stuff being in the game because it's there in real life.

Having a black girlfrind maybe makes the subject a bit more sensitive to me.. but i really think it would be way wrong to put stuff like that in the game.

 

[Falco88]

If it's a football simulator then it should be as closest as posible to the real life, half of the mexican league teams have beer sponsors like America with Corona, so my point is that people are not gonna drink or bet only because they see it on a team shirt, so i think that US law in that matter is hard and unfair

 

[Paul]

Regardless of what it is, if you put things like gambling, racism, lets go as far as terrorism in games, it can be interepreted that because its a part of soccer it is acceptable.

Terrorism isnt, obviously, but if it was, and added, im sure people would think differently. So how is racism or anyhting else different from it? It's not.

Football in England has tried to remove racism for a long time now, EA putting it in the premier football game would be suicidal, they'd never get the rights to anything.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

So does that mean that in the US they won't show 'boro or hibs games on TV (I know it is unlikely even if they didn't have the sponsors :P) but I mean like in the game against United last week, theywouldn't have shown that on television because they would have been breaking a law?

If a game is a simulation, then it should have everything that you see in real life, that's including racist fan flags etc. even though racism is an evil which should be stamped out my opinion is that if it can be seen in the stadium then it should be shown in the game. You never see television companies issuing certifictaes on matches do you or actually at the stadium you don't see people not being allowed in because of banners with profanity or aggressive language that they might be offended by.

EA usually do that when they can't get full liceneses for individual players, or teams, just give a fake name but correct details, like Fiorentina being called by the Italian name for Florence, Firenze, or how Ronaldo always used to be called No.9 which after a bit of editting, (if they included it in the game) was reet.

Are you stupid? The first post says that gambling and hard liquor are banned in VIDEO GAMES, not on television. Apparantly reading something that doesn't include a swastika is a challenge for you. The game should include racist flags? GREAT IDEA! That way 8 year old kids playing the game will see them and think that's how true fans follow the game and will emulate it. Why not go all the way and after the game have Paolo Di Canio give the Nazi heil to the ultras? You are really really really stupid and have come VERY close to losing your speaking privileges.

If it's a football simulator then it should be as closest as posible to the real life, half of the mexican league teams have beer sponsors like America with Corona, so my point is that people are not gonna drink or bet only because they see it on a team shirt, so i think that US law in that matter is hard and unfair

Well then you can challenge the law based on free speech grounds and likely win. Yeah, you'll win, but you know what, your game will recieve a harsher rating by the ratings board and you will sell less copies. EA knows that idiots buy their crappy product no matter what, so they really don't care. Every year a new wave of people come to the Soccer Gaming Forums and complain and bitch about the new FIFA game, and every year they make wishlists and EA prints them out and uses it as toilet paper in their offices. They aren't going to make their game better, so just stop buying it. Have you noticed that there is no regular poster in the FIFA Forum with over 3000 posts? That's because we've been here so long we know nothing is going to change.

Whatever, I'm out. I probably won't open this forum for another 2 years and then be assaulted with idiocy from every thread as I am now. Bye.

 

[Avalanche]

So does that mean that in the US they won't show 'boro or hibs games on TV (I know it is unlikely even if they didn't have the sponsors :P) but I mean like in the game against United last week, theywouldn't have shown that on television because they would have been breaking a law?

Fox Soccer Channel (the US rights-holders to the Premiership) do show Middlesbrough matches with some regularity. As for the gambling/hard liquor laws, I'm not exactly sure how it affects sporting events from other nations. I think it only applies to events held in U S and A.

 

[curswine]

It's like your trying to cotton wrap something which actually occurs in life, I never said I support Nazi idealism or anything of the such, I am totally against racism and anti-semitism especially because of my personal life. I just think that if you can see something in a stadium you should be able to see it in the game and make it as life like as possible, I'm not saying shove swastika's in left, right and center, just where they occur in real life.

If I ever bought the game I would make sure to edit it like I saw picture of matches and try and match it up exactly and if that means adding swastika or celtic crosses or anything of facist representation I would because I only want to see what is actually there, not a fantasy world where every ground is polluted with racist flags and banners. In England you never see any racist banners, the nearest you get to racism now is maybe some dick head in the crowd shouting thing, so I wouldn't expect to not see anything racist here, just the flags which can be seen in the stadium, I know I am repeating myself, but I feel as though I need to to make sure I am getting my point across that I don't support any racist movements at all just ingame realism.

 

[Vinman]

Actually, Mutu IS in the game, but under a false name. There's a player on the Juventus roster, Petrovici Teodor, who is listed as from Romania with Mutu's height, weight and correct number. The only other difference from the name is his date of birth. After I made the edits, the announcers DID refer to him as Mutu during gameplay. For anyone who's played EA's Major League Baseball games, Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants is in the game this way...under a false name, Tom Dowd, and date of birth.

I'm aware of at least four other players who are in FIFA 06 under false names, and there are probably many more.

you are correct...

Mutu is in the game !!!

thanks for the info !!!

 

[cg2]

Hang on a minute, isnt Liverpools sponsor "Carlsberg" a beer brewing company??
How come they show on Liverpools's shirt ?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[doublem_59]

Hang on a minute, isnt Liverpools sponsor "Carlsberg" a beer brewing company??
How come they show on Liverpools's shirt ?!?!?!?!?!?!?

The ban I mentioned in my initial post only applies to hard liquor, such as vodka or whiskey, beer is apparently ok.

By the way, I've combed carefully through all four English, both French, both Italian, both German, and both Spanish leagues in the search for hidden players with "fake" names...and have found a grand total of two. Adrian Mutu with Juventus, and Marco Materazzi with Inter. Hopefully I will have gone through the remaining European league by Christmas.

 

[Jomi]

By the way, I've combed carefully through all four English, both French, both Italian, both German, and both Spanish leagues in the search for hidden players with "fake" names...and have found a grand total of two. Adrian Mutu with Juventus, and Marco Materazzi with Inter. Hopefully I will have gone through the remaining European league by Christmas.

I've got 4 more names:

In the austrian league , by rapid vienna No 9 is Axel Lawaree ( BEL )
In the belgian league by anderlecht No 8 is Nenad Jestrovic ( SMG )
by charleroi No2 ist Franck Defays and No 16 ist Mahamadou Kéré

 

[doublem_59]

I've got 4 more names:

In the austrian league , by rapid vienna No 9 is Axel Lawaree ( BEL )
In the belgian league by anderlecht No 8 is Nenad Jestrovic ( SMG )
by charleroi No2 ist Franck Defays and No 16 ist Mahamadou Kéré

Thanks Jomi. I just went through both the Austrian and Belgian leagues over the last two days, but hadn't checked the list of players I have questions about against the club rosters yet. I did recognize Jestrovic, though, as I was going down the game's Anderlecht roster.

 

[KULCAT]

It's like your trying to cotton wrap something which actually occurs in life, I never said I support Nazi idealism or anything of the such, I am totally against racism and anti-semitism especially because of my personal life. I just think that if you can see something in a stadium you should be able to see it in the game and make it as life like as possible, I'm not saying shove swastika's in left, right and center, just where they occur in real life.

If I ever bought the game I would make sure to edit it like I saw picture of matches and try and match it up exactly and if that means adding swastika or celtic crosses or anything of facist representation I would because I only want to see what is actually there, not a fantasy world where every ground is polluted with racist flags and banners. In England you never see any racist banners, the nearest you get to racism now is maybe some dick head in the crowd shouting thing, so I wouldn't expect to not see anything racist here, just the flags which can be seen in the stadium, I know I am repeating myself, but I feel as though I need to to make sure I am getting my point across that I don't support any racist movements at all just ingame realism.

Why stop there curswine? Why doesn't EA starts reproducing cursing and then you could have Rooney going: Take that you mother*uckers!!! everytime he scores.
Here are some other ideas you probably will love Curswine
-Players talking about sex in the lockers while virtual reporters hide taperecorders under the towels.
-Players suffering career ending injuries but not only that but we would actually watch the knee cap break the skin so we can see the bone as Any Grey goes: Well that bastard is done
-Ea could also reproduce pregame stuff like fans getting stabbed in bars as they get in fight and you get a close up of their last breath
-We could also have cinematics of Adrian Mutu smoking crack while on a party with Kate Moss... i mean if we're gonna reproduce the whole thing let's do it well right

Jesus man, have some criteria will you.